Centrifugal concentrator



Feb; 17, 1925.

o. e. PEcK, JR

CENTRIF'UGAL CONCENTRATOR Filed June 25, 1924 mmfl Patented Feb. 17, 1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CENTRIFUGAL CONCENTRATOR.

Application led June 23, 1924.

To all whom it may concern.:

Be it knovvn that` I, ORRIN B. Piton, Jr., a citizen of the United States, residing at 1433 1V est 48th St., in the city of Los Angeles, State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Centrifugal Concentrators, of which the follovvingis a specification. p

My invention relates to that type of centrifugal concentrators which operate in successive cycles alternately accumulating a bed or load of .concentrates in a rotating vessel, and then discharging the same Without stopping the vessel, and in which an internal rotatable longitudinally movable core member is employed to funct-ion with the vessel for accomplishing the purposes of the concentrator, the longitudinal movements of the core in part, being controlled by liquid pressure of a hydraulic cylinder in operating communication with the core member, together With pressure of liquid on the core at the feed end of the vessel, incident to centrifugal force and accretion of concentrates in the vessel.

ln the drawing, Fig. l, is partly a side elevation, and partly a central longitudinal vertical section of my concentrator, shon ing the internal member or core moved to its nearest approach to the small or feed end of the concentrating vessel, in position for commencement of a concentrating period, the governor o-perating to effect opening of the feed valve to the vessel, and such valve being shown in that position.

Fig. 2, is similar to Fig. 1, but showing the core forced back to the discharge end of the vessel, caused primarily through accretion of concentrates; the feed of material closed off and Water turned on to assist in discharge of heavier constituents, or concentrates, and the core in position for commencement of the discharge period,

It will be understood, as has been described in mallowed application for Letters Patent, erial No. 666277, filed Oct. 3d, 1923, that in this type of concentrator the core member is somewhat shorter in length than the internal length of the concentrat` ing vessel, Which permits longitudinal movement of the core within the vessel, and that in operation the vessel is rotated at a high speed during the concentrating period, and the core at the beginning of each cycle is positioned at the small or feed end of the vessel, also that during concentration it is Serial No. 721,648.

gradually forced lengthWa-ys by operating pressure under high centrifugal impetus on the material and liquid fed into the vessel, towards the opposite or large end of the vessel, which movement is suitably and yieldably resisted by liquid pressure in the hydraulic cylinder, as above stated; also that this endways movement is incident to, or primarily caused by accretion of concentrates in the vessel, as will hereinafter be explained, and will continue until the core is forced to its nearest approach to the large Vend of the vessel; that the time of suc-h movement of the core constitutesthe concentrating period, and its duration is not predetermined, as it is governed by the rapidity with which heavier constituents or concentrates accumulate in the vessel.

It Will be further understood that during the unloading or concentrate discharge period of the cycle, the vessel is rotated at a relatively slow speed Without stopping, and the core is automatically forced back by pressureI of the liquid in the hydraulic cylinder, to its initial position in the vessel, preparatory to the commencement of another cycle, and my invention herein described and claimed relates more particularly to these features in coordination with means for hydraulically effect-ing and controlling the functioning of members for feeding material as Well as Water to the vessel and stopping the same, governed by the accretion of heavier constituents in the undert-ermined period of the cycle.

ln carrying out my present invention I provide a rotatable conical shaped cylinder or concentrating vessel 2, illustrated partly in longitudinal section and partly in side elevation in both Figs. 1 and 2, of the drawings. At the large end of this vessel there is an enlargement 3, in which is formed an internal annular chamber, having comparatively small discharge opening 4c, located in a circumferential row Which extends from the chamber through the Wall ofthe vessel, for discharge of liquid and material from the vessel.

The vessel at this end is provided with a head 5, which is rigidly and concentrically mounted on and supported by a rotatable hollow shaft 6, Which is journalled in boxes 7 and 8 respectively, mounted on the upper end of stands 9 and 10, these stands in turn. being supported on a base plate 11, of the concentrator. The shaft 6 is provided with a pulley..V 12,` by which rotation? isfirnparted to it from any suitablesource' ofpovver` by a belt, not shown, and 1n this way the concentrating vessel isrevolved at thespeed y which may be desired.

The small end of the vessel-isfral'so'ifpro-` vided with a head 13, which has a suitable hollow trunnion let, which is journa-lled ina box` 15, mounted on the upper endr of a stand`16, also superimposed on the'bed plate ofthe` concentrator.

`Within the concentrating vessel'is a core* member 17, whichissomewhat.smaller in diameter "and also somewhat shorter than the internal length of the vessel. This core is taperingin form substantially the sameas is lthe internal circumferential' wall of the vessel, and'is of diameter'so'l-when ,the core ispositioned-nearestto the small or asxwill hereinafterbee;\:plained, and an accretion of-concentrates or heavier constituents are illustrated in the same.

The core is somewhat in the nature of a large plug, although appearing in the drawings, within the vessel, `in` longitudinal section. lt is intendedY to be smooth on'its circumferential surface, and is securely mounted on the overhanging end of a shaft 19, which is journall'ed in the hollow'of the shaft 6,' passingr through such hollow and -extending `into the vessel suit= ably to support and carry the core therein.V

This shaft also extends through and out of ther opposite end of the` hollow shaft, a desiredfdistance, so as tobe journalled atlouter endin a box 20, mountedon the upperfpart -of astand 21, which' is supportedV on as shown.-

As means forrotating the shaft 19, and the core, there isa pulley-22, of suitable size mounted-entire shaft, which may be; diuve11`by a belt, not shown, ,at anyspeed required.

Surrounding the enlargement 3, ofthe vessel, there is provided a hollow housing or launder 28, with comparatively thin walls, located and held inplace o n the bed plate of' the concentrator `as illustrated, andis provided with an annular slot `or opening 24e, through its wall around adjacent to the enlargement, in radial alignment with the discharge holes il, in position to receive the discharge of liquid and material from the vesselandpermit-the nsame to -tlow from the bed plate of 'the IconcentrtorA The main portion of the chamber of the valve is'- of size" and appropriately formed for-movement of a valveclosing `disc 28""A in it, as illustrated.

The upper end of the valve ispreferably provided with a materialfeed pipe' 29, the iow channel' of which, into the valve,r is

positioned and adapted to be' closed by proper movement'ofthe disc 28 over said opening, asf shown in Fig. 2. i

Preferably near the `lower portion of` the valve-body is connected a water or other suitable-liquid supplyV pipe 80.LA This pipeV is connected-below theseatishoulder Q7, so

when' the disc 28" is in downward; position,fas shown in Fig: 1,the` water pipe will beH closed to the-upper `part of the valve.

Suitably connected to the valve body' above the seatled-ge 27 is a comparatively shortpipe B1 passing through'the hollow trunnion, andlsolnewhat'into the vessel at the feed end, to deliver feed'into this end. Thevalve is suitably supported by a b 'aclet 32, attac-hed to the journal stand 16, as il"` lustrated in the drawings.

VAs means for operatingthe feed valve, there is a *suitable hydraulic cylinder' 33,

'provided with a piston" head 5d therein,

which is carried by a rod rhis rod passes* out of theA cylinder througha packing bor; 30,V and into the feed valve through a paclringbox 37, assbown,"

where itproperly.engages and carries the closure disc 28 in the valve.

T his rod 35 is of length and the hydraulic cylinder and valve and theirV respective members are so relatively located thatthe rod will carry `the diseV and properly seat the saine to'open and close the feed and water passages in the valve, as illustrated, depending on which way the rod is moved by hydraulic action in vthe cylinder.

To supply liquid under requisite pressure to operate the hydraulic cylinder' as desired, there are pipes 39 and Aelllconnected to the cylinder', the former serving when it is de sired to close the water feed and open inaterial feed, as shown in Fig. 1, and the pipe L t0 when the reverse action desired, as shown in l? ig. 2.

VPreferably in extended axial alignment with the shaft 19, o-r sul'istantially so, there is providedy a hydraulic cylinder 111, securely but removably connected to the journal stand 21, as illustrated in the drawings, The ed of the shaft 19 extends through its box 20, into the cylinder a greater or less distance, as shown, depending on the position of the core 17. `Within the cylinder is a suitable piston head 42, which is rotatably attached to the end of the shaft 19, through appropriate non-rotatable members 43, 44 and 45 respectively, and the rotatable disc member 46 attached to the shaft, also the bearing balls 47, as shown.

The members which effect rotatable engagement of the piston head and the end of the core shaft, as just explained, in this way serve to transmit liquid pressure from the cylinder, through the shaft, to yieldably resist, as desired, longitudinal movement of the core towards the discharge end of the vessel during concentration, also as the agency by which the core is automatically forced towards the fed end of the vessel during the discharge of concentrates.

Liquid which is supplied to the hydraulic cylinder under requisite pressure, through a pipe 48, is preferably from a yieldable or elastic source, as from an accumulator drum or receiver 49, as illustrated in the drawing, the upper part of the drum of the accumulator serving as an air chamber, which is supplied with air to afford elasticity to movement of the liquid. The liquid is forced into the accumulator drum under desired pressure by suitable means, as by a force pump, not shown, connecting with a pipe 49. As additional means of regulating the liquid pressure to the cylinder there is an adjustable relief valve 50 employed, of any suitable type.

The outer end of the hydraulic cylinder is provided with a head 51, which preferably in part forms a chamber 52 and is provided with a preferably central opening 53 from the cylinder to the chamber. Vvithin the chamber is provided a disc 54 having a stem portion 55 which protrudes through the opening 53 a short distance into the cylinder.

rlfhe disc forms a closure member for the opening 53, and .is normally held or seated over such opening to close the same, by yieldable means, as a rubber cushion 56, as shown in Fig. 1. rlhe outer side of the chamber 52, is closed by a. removable cap 57, which also affords access to the yieldable cushion and disc when desired.

The pipe 40 from the hydraulic cylinder 4l is connected t0 the Chamb r 52 and water under pressure from the chamber is supplied through it at the appropriate time to operate the cylinder and stop the feed of material as herein below explained.

The protruding end of the stud 55, into the cylinder is in position and adapted to cont-act with a member 58 on the piston head and force the disc back, opening the passage into the chamber 52, as shown in Fig. 2, when the piston head has been forced to the position through accretion of concentrates in the channel 1S.

This result in causing the cylinder 33 to function and close off the material feed to the vessel, which ends the undetermined concentrating period, and starts the feed of water for the discharge period.

lt will be seen in this way the duration of the concentrating period through which material is fed to the vessel is primarily gorerned and determined by the accretion of heavier constitutents in the vessel, and sec-V ondarily, by forcing bach of the disc 54 through movement of the piston head 4Q to its eXtreme outward position in the cylinder, as shown in Fig. 2.

ft follows, as is also illustrated in Fig. 2, that at the time feed of material is closed off by the valve, feed of water is started by the same movement of the piston rod 35.

After feed of material has been stopped and feed of water started to the vessel by the means described, the speed of rotation of the vessel should be much reduced for the discharge of accumulated heavier const-ituents, which constitutes the discharge period, but the speed of the core should not be reduced.

|This condition of reduced vessel speed lessens the centrifugal force both on the bedded concentrates within the vessel, and the water then being fed into it, rendering the concentrates relatively easy to dislodge and discharge, and much reducing the endways pressure on the core towards the large end of the vessel, so the core is, at this time during discharge of the heavier constituents, quickly forced by the pressure in the cylinder 41. which has not been reduced, to the small end of the vessel in posit-ion for commencement of another concentrating period.

llllhen the accumulated concentrates have been discharged from the vessel, the end of the discharge period having been reached, the speed of the vessel is intended to be accelerated suiiiciently for concentration, the water fed to the vessel should be stopped and feed of material started.

As means for automatically stopping the water and starting the material feed when the vessel is sufficiently accelerated for this purpose, l provide a governor 59 of an ordinary suitable adjustable type, and furnish it with a suitable reciprocable plug 60, sccured to the running gear of the governor, so the plug will be moved up or down as there is variation in the speed of the balls of the governor.

rlhere is a pipe 61 suitably connected to the barrel of the governor as shown, from any appropriate source of liquid under pressure. The pipe 39 is also connected to the valve as shown, in position with relation to the pipe Gl, so a port or opening G2 in the plug GO will be brought in registration With these twopipes and afford a liquid flow passage betvfecn them, which will permit liquid under pressure to pass from the pipe 6l to the cylinder el, and through n'ioven'ien't of the cylinder piston head 3l, operate the parts of the feed valve into position shown in F ig. l, stopping the Water feed and starting the material feed.

'ill'ie governor is driven from the vessel iaft by a belt G3, as shown, and does not receive impetus enough to open the floiv poi't through the valve plug during the discharge period or until the concentrating vessel has fially attained concentrating speed.

llo allord escape for liquid which may he statically in either end of the cylinder lo de) when it is desired to force the piston to that end,` there is provided suitable small escape pipes 6i in the respective hydraulic pipes serving the cylinder', as shown in the drawings. lt will be further understood that the pressure of liquid which is supplied through the governoi` to function the cylinder 33, should be some-What less than the pressure from the cjgflinder lly to move it in the opposits direction, as the latter movement will be required While the governor' is operating at full speed and liquid through it will then be effective in the cylinder 33, and the pressure to effect opposite movement will therefore have to be stronger than the opposing pressure.

In operation, during' the concentrating period, the vessel is rotated at a desired coinparatirely high rate of speed, and the core member is rotated at a desired differential speed to that of the vessel, these speeds being adjusted separately and relatively to effect the concentration Wanted.

Under these conditions a suitable volume of material mixed with the Water for treatment is fed to the vessel through the feed pipe 3l, into the space between the small end of the vessel and that end of the core, thence flowing into the concentrating channel or passage, Where the heavier portions to be separated and recovered, accumulate in said channel in a progressive accretion or bed.. 1'8, as illustrated in Fig. 2, While the lighter or Waste portions are hydraulically scoured by the liquid passing through the concentrating channel as a result of opera,- tion, and are 'ash'ed or carried on through such channel to discharge from the vessel 'through the openings Ll, and into the launder, passing on out through the opening 2V l in the loiver part of the launder for further desired disposition,

During` this time of concentration, the ves sel operating at a comparatively high speed, the liquid and material which accumulates in the feed end of the vessel, as the saine are being fed therein, areA subjected to highly developed centrifugal force, resulting ina hydraililic pressure', strongly tendingfto force the core end a'ys from the feed end of the vessel towards the large end. This pressure is much augmented as the concentrates bed in the concentrating channel, fronr the fact that such bed-ding gradually fills inthe concentratingpassage and decreases the sizeof the flow channel for the liquid and material from the feed end. This'endways pressure on the core, as above explained, is transmitted'through the shaft 19, and its-associated part.y to the liquid in the hydraulicI cylinder, so such liquid forms a. resisting energy'to the pressure on the end of the core to force the latter towards the large endY of the cylinder.

The liquid pressure in the hydraulic cylinder may be in part, or largely adjusted through the regulating or relief valve 50, so as to balance vvith the pressureof liquid accumulated in the small end of the vessel, in a manner to yield to the latter pressure asf desired, permitting the core t0 be gradually forced back towards the large end of the vessel, resulting in maintaining `the flow passage for material in the concentran ing channel of suitable and desired size, While accretion of concentrates therein progresses. This continues until the core has been forced to its extreme position at the large end of the vessel, which has enlarged the channel tol its maximum size, permitting the same to have become largely filled With bedded concentra-tes.

i lVhen the core has been fully moved to the large end of the vessel,- the feed of Inaterial for concentration is closed off by the feed valve; the speed of the concentrating vessel very much reduced and clean liquid introduced, pipe 30, resulting, `during the low speed of the vessel, in a relatively low centrifugal force and rela-tively loiv pressure of liquid in the feed end of the vessel, thereby 'changing the balance of pressure between this point' and the liquid in the hydraulic cylinder 4l, so that the pressure in the latter cylinder Will be relatively largely in excess, which condition Will force the core again to the small or feed end of the vessel, While the bedded concentrates are washed fout under the low condition of centrifugal force, restoring the initial relative positions of the core andthe vessel for commencement of another lcycle of operation,

The concentrates are flowed from the vessel, While being discharged, through the saine openings 4, as was the Waste during the concentrating period of the cycle, but may be diverted by any suitable means to a desired place, as they flow from the opening in the lower part of the launder.

The concentrates having been discharged fromthevessel, it is then accelerated to its 'suitable high speed for concentrationr the feed of clean water discontinued; the feed of material for concentration restored, and the operation may be repeated, thus progressing in successive cycles.

lt will be understoodthat it is not intended that the concentrating` vessel should be stopped to state of rest during the dischargey period, but that its speed should 'be much reduced, as has been already explained, although no injury will be sustainedif it should reach a state of rest during such time.

, `What regard as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: y

l. 1n a centrifugal concentrator the combination of .a rotatable vessel, a differentially rotatable longitudinally movable core within the vessel, adapted in operation to be pressed towards the discharge end of the vessel, yieldable hydraulic means for resisting such endways pressure, means for feeding material and feeding water to said vessel at desired time, and means for hydraulically operating said feed means, substantially as described.

2. In a centrifugal concentra-tor, the combination of a rotatable concentrating vessel7 a differentially rotatable longitudinally movable core within the vessel adapted in operation to be hydraulically pressed towards the discharge end of the vessel, hydraulically actuated means for feeding material to the vessel, a hydraulic cylinder for yieldably resisting movement of the core towards the discharge end of the vessel, provided with a piston member adapted at the end portion of the concentrating period to hydraulically effect functioning of said means for stopping feed of material and starting feed of water to the vessel, substantially as described.

3. ln a centrifugal conceutrator, the combination of a rotatable concentrating vessel. a differentially rotatable longitudinally movable core, within the vessel, adapted in operation to be pressed towards the discharge end of the vessel, hydraulically actuated means for feeding material and feeding water to the vessel, a hydraulic cylinder for yieldably resisting movement of the core towards the discharge end of the vessel, provided with a piston member, adapted, on reaching the discharge end of the vessel, to hydraulically eifect functioning of means embodying the hydraulically actuated feed valve mechanism for closing the feed of material and opening the feed of water to the vessel, substantially as described.

4. In a centrifugal concentrator, the combination of a rotatable concentrating vessel, diHerentia-lly rotatable longitudinally movable core, within the vessel, adapted in operation to be pressed towards the discharge end of the vessel, hydraulically actuated means for feeding material and feeding water to the vessel, a hydraulic cylinder for yeldably resisting movement of the core towards the discharge end of the vessel, pro-` vided with a piston` member adapted, on reaching the discharge end of the vessel to hydraulically effect functioning of means embodying the hydraulically actuated feed valve mechanism for closing the feed of material and opening the feed of water to the vessel, and means for effecting iydraulic functioning of said mechanism at the beginning of the concentrating period to close the water and open the feed of material to the vessel, substantially as described. y

.5. ln a centrifugalconcentratoig the combination of a rotatable concentrating vessel, a differentially rotatable longitudinally movable core, within the vessel, adapted in operation to be pressed towards the discharge end of the vessel, hydraulically actuated means for feeding material and feed.- water to the vessel, a hydraulic cylinder for yieldably resisting movement -of the core towards the discharge end of the vessel, provided with a piston member' adapted, on reaching the discharge end of the vessel to 'hydraulically effect functioning of means embodying the hydraulically actuated feed valve mechanism for closing the feed of material and opening the feed of water to the vessel, and means for effecting hydraulic functioning of said mechanism at the beginning of the concentrating period to close the water and open the feed of material to the vessel. embodying a governor' adapted to open a hydraulic flow `pressure channel at concentrating speed of the vessel, substantially as described.

6. ln a centrifugal concent-rator the combination of a rotatable vessel. a differentially rotatable longitudinally movable core within the vessel, adapted in operation to be hydraulically pressed towards the discharge end of the vessel, yieldable hydraulic means for resisting such endways pressure, means for feeding material and feeding water to said vessel, at desired times. and means for hydraulically operating said feed means in part governed by accretion of heavier constituents in the vessel, substantially as described.

7. In a centrifugal concent-rator the combination of a rotatable vessel, a differentially rotatable longitudinally movable core within the vessel,y adaptedin' operation to be pressed towards the discharge end of the vessel, in kpart' by accretionl of heavier constituents in the vessel, yieldable hydraulic means for resisting such endwise pressure, means for feeding material and feeding wa'- ter to said vessel, means for hydraulically operating said feed means embodying a governor for effecting hydraulic functioning of 4 iiial (at eoncelntralt U Said feedfmeens: i011Slb 11ffinef i.feedA @f matev f D speedf of the vVessel, eubetgintially asl de's'i'ibed.

bination Yof Va rotatable Vessel, a difiereneially rotatable longitudinal lmovalole Coi'e .Within the Vessel,I dapted in; operation `no be. pressed, towards the yc liscliaige end of v'che ,xjesseL n ehaft for e supporting and rotating the eoi'e,a. hydraulic' cylinder adapted "no vcolite-in` liquid: under y,lrlessui'e for yieldagbly resigtfingitlhe endways pressure, on J(he core,

vafdapted-- to .operate :Said feedI Inzean's, functioned by `liquid from said coreresisting nesting Seid lfftliylindr, andes-,aid valve @Bevalling Qylindlg Substantially :as described.' l

9. In' a centrifugal eoneenti'gtoi',znloinbination of si rotatable, vesse1,-a cdiffer'entigllly antinieble longitudinallymovable 4icone" Wlijhin the lvessel,i adapted yin operatiqn .to pi'esged towards the idischaiifge vend `of l the vessel iny part; by aeloiietion` lof /lieawievL constituents in the vessel, yieldable! hydraulic means for resisting' such ericlwaygs prjeseuie,

ineens for feeding material anddeedinggvil- .teli `to lelle yesselet .desiijed ltimes, meynsglfor automatically hydraulielly L qpemlging ,said

feed Deane effvwideterminfl"Peltiod, und

for gilifcomajially hydpgiulieally ,opening conentyafaingi, epeed, ,of the i lette?, isubeten- .tially is ,(lesoliiloel; i

,OR-RIN B. ;PEQK, -Jm 

